Former NFF President, Oneya, to be buried September 10

PHOTO: NFF President Pinnick (left) with Tony Oneya (middle) and a
sister during Pinnick’s visit to the late Oneya family in Warri on
Saturday.

The remains of former Chairman of then Nigeria Football Association
(now Nigeria Football Federation), Brigadier-General Dominic Obukadata
Oneya, who died in his home in Warri on Thursday, will be buried on
10th September 2021. The funeral rites would begin on 9th September.

President of the NFF and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick,
who met with the children of the departed former football boss in
Warri on Saturday, also disclosed that a number of former NFF
Presidents have accepted the invitation to attend the burial rites of
their fallen colleague.
“The family has fixed the dates of 9th and 10th September for the
funeral rites. We are all still bowed by the demise of a man who was
so healthy and full of life the day before. However, we can only give
God the glory for his exemplary life. He was so high up there yet came
down to everyone’s level in a remarkable character of humility and
people skills. We will miss him dearly,” Pinnick.

Former NFF Presidents, Colonel Abdulmumini Aminu (1996-1999; and who
like Oneya served as a military administrator during his time),
Ibrahim Galadima (2002-2006), Sani Lulu Abdullahi (who served as vice
president in the Dominic Oneya-led NFF administration and then took
the reins between 2006 and 2010) and Aminu Mohammed Maigari
(2010-2014) have all accepted invitation in principle to attend the
funeral rites. Former President Anthony Kojo Williams would be
unavoidably absent only as a result of another very important
engagement.

Oneya, a dignified former military chieftain who served as military
administrator of Kano and Benue States at different times, was
Chairman of then Nigeria Football Association between January 2000 and
October 2002, handing over to Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima.